Safety-signal.



C. R. FUNK & L. H. SMITH.

SAFETY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14. 1916.

l 93 l a Patented J 11116 12, 1917. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

c. R. FUNK & L. H. SMITH.

SAFETY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14 915- 1 %9 31 Patented June 12, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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CHARLES R. FUNK AND LEWIS H. SMITH, 0F EMPORIA, KANSAS.

SAFETY-SIGNAL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CnARLEs R. FUNK and LEWIS H. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Emporia, in the county of Lyon and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Signals; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to safety signals, and more particularly to a direction indicator especially designed for attachment to a motor vehicle and operable by the driver thereof.

The invention has for its primary object to provide a novel and eflicient direction. indicator and means for efiectively illuminating the indicator so as to render it clearly visible at night.

With this and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figurel represents a front elevation of the direction indicator applied to a motor vehicle,

Fig. 2 represents a top lan view thereof,

Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 4: represents a transverse sectiona view on the line H of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 represents a detail perspective view, partly'broken away, of the adjustable bearing for one of the drive pulleys of the indicator,

Fig. 6 represents a detail sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 represents a vertical sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 represents a fragmental long1tud1 nal sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5,

v and Fig. .9 represents a rear elevation of the operating pulley carried by the indicator, illustrating the arrangement of the contact pins associated therewith.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 indicates a supporting bar of adequate size having lateral exten sions 11 at or adjacent the ends thereof. in

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12., f91'7.

Application filed July 145, 1916. Serial No. 109,326.

which are threaded fastening screws 12 adapted to be secured tothe radiator 13 or other part of a motor vehicle, as suggested in Figs. 1 and 2.

A hollow shaft 14 is rigidly secured in the central portion of the supporting bar 10, projects forwardly therefrom and is provided at its outer terminal with external screw threads receiving an internally screw threaded sleeve 15 constituting a socket in which is fitted an electric lamp 16. A second sleeve 17 of less external diameter than the sleeve 15 is rotatably mounted upon the hollow shaft 14: between the sleeve 15 and the bar 10, and is normally retained in rearwardly extended position by the tension of an expansion spring 18, engaged at one end with shoulders defined by the projecting portion of the sleeve 15 and at its opposite end with an indicator or pointer 19, rigidly secured to the sleeve or hub 17.

An operating pulley 20 is positioned upon the rear end of the sleeve or hub 17 and is rigidly secured to the pivoted end of the pointer 19, a metal washer 21 being interposed between the pulley 20 and pointer 19 and engaging the sleeve 17-so as to electrically connect aplurality of spaced contact pins 22 positioned in the pulley 20 with the sleeve 17; hollow shaft 14: and lampsocket 16. The contact pins 22 are adapted, during rotary movement of the pointer 19 and pulley 20, to intermittently and successively engage a spring contact 23 secured to and suitably insulated from the supporting bar 10, and arranged at av point adjacent the hollow shaft 14. The spring contact 23 is connected with a suitable source of electromotive force by a conductor 2t extended rearwardly of the bar 10.

The center electrode of the electric lamp 16 is connected with the source of electromotive force by a conductor 25, which is extended longitudinally through an insulator 26 fitted in the hollow shaft 14 and which has its forward extremity coiled to I which also extends over a relatively adjustable pulley 29 rotatably mounted in a bearing 30 slidably fitted in a longitudinal recess 31 formed at the enlarged end32 of the supporting bar 10. The adjustable bearing member 30 is secured in adjusted position so as to properly tension the belt 28 by a. screw. 33. The shaft 34, which supports the pulley and extends rearwardly through the ad ustable bearing 30 is connected by a flex1ble or sectional drive shaft 35, extended to a polnt conveniently nearthe driver of the vehicle, whereby the pulley 29 may be rotated so as to effect the desired adjustment of the pointer 19 through the driving belt 28. The central portion of the supporting rod 10 1s formed with an internally screw threaded aperture receiving a screw 36, to the rear end of which is rotatably secured a leaf spring 37 having curved ends engaging parts of the motor vehicle 13 for preventing vibratory movement of the bar 10 with relation to the vehicle.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the part of the motor vehicle 13 to which the direction indicator is attached is preferably marked with suitable words over which the free end of the pointer 19 is movable so as to more clearly indicate to pedestrians and others the significance of the position of the pointer. At night the indicator or pointer 19 is intermittently illuminated as the. pointer is moved from one position to another by the electric lamp 16.

What is claimed is:

1. A direction indicator including a supporting bar a hollow shaft secured to said supporting bar, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said hollow shaft, a pointer non-rotatably secured to said sleeve, a pulley secured to said pointer, a spring contact carried by and insulated from said supporting bar, a plurality of contact pins adapted to intermittently and successively engage said contact spring during swinging movement of said pointer, an electric connection be tween said contact pins and said sleeve, a lamp socket secured to the end of said hollow shaft opposite said supporting bar, an electric lamp secured in said socket, means normally retaining saidpins in contact with: said spring contacts, and an electrical conductor extending longitudinally of said hollow shaft and engaging the center electrode of said electric lamp.

2. A direction indicator including a supporting bar, a hollow shaft secured to said bar, a sleeve slidably and rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a pointer carried by said sleeve, a spring contact carried by and insulated from said supporting bar, a plurality of contact pins supported by said sleeve adapted to intermittently and successively engage said contact spring during the free movement of the pointer, an electrical connection between the contact pins and said sleeve, a lamp socket'secured to the end of said hollow shaft opposite the supportin bar, an electric lamp supported in said socket, a spring confined between the socket and said pointer normally retaining the contact pins in engagement with the contact spring, and an electrical conductor eXtending longitudinally through said hollow shaft itllCl engaging the center electrode of said amp.

In testimony whereof we afHX our signa-' tures in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses DAVILLO SPADE,

W. J. (Jones. 

